Washing machine and method for controlling same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines do not allow for convenient and safe addition of laundry during operation, as the main door must be opened, which requires waiting for the cycle to finish or draining water, limiting the ability to add more laundry without interrupting the process.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine with an auxiliary door that can be unlocked by default and locked only under specific conditions, such as excessive laundry weight or high water temperature, allowing for safe and convenient addition of laundry during operation, and adjusting wash parameters like water supply and time as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the main door is locked during operation to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but the ability to add laundry is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is divided into two independent parts: a main door for primary access and an auxiliary door for adding laundry during operation. The auxiliary door can be independently opened and closed without affecting the locked state of the main door, allowing users to add laundry while maintaining safety through the locked main door.
2Ease of operation
If the auxiliary door is unlocked by default for convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking state of the auxiliary door is dynamically adjusted based on operational conditions. The controller automatically locks the auxiliary door when detecting high-temperature water or excessive laundry weight, and unlocks it during safe phases of the washing cycle, optimizing both convenience and safety throughout the operation.
3Reliability
If the auxiliary door is locked during high-temperature washing to prevent burns, then safety is improved, but the ability to add laundry is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors water temperature and automatically adjusts the auxiliary door locking state accordingly. When high-temperature water is detected, the auxiliary door is locked to prevent burns; when temperature drops to safe levels, the door is unlocked to allow laundry addition, creating a responsive safety system that adapts to changing conditions.
4Reliability
If the auxiliary door is locked when laundry weight is excessive to prevent imbalance, then washing reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors laundry weight through sensors and automatically locks the auxiliary door when excessive weight is detected to maintain washing balance. The system provides feedback to the user about the weight condition and only allows laundry addition when the balance is acceptable, ensuring reliable washing operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided are a washing machine in which an auxiliary door can be safely and conveniently used, and a method of controlling the same. The auxiliary door through which laundry can be additionally put into the washing machine, is provided, and the auxiliary door can be safely locked/unlocked. Because an open/closed state of the auxiliary door can be indirectly determined through a locking/unlocking operation of the auxiliary door, even when a door opening/closing detecting device has broken down, the auxiliary door can be safely used. In addition, the auxiliary door is unlocked by default and conditions on which the auxiliary door is locked for safety if necessary, are minimized during an operation of the washing machine so that use convenience of the auxiliary door can be enhanced, and a locked state of the auxiliary door is maintained according to the amount of laundry so that the laundry can be safely put into the washing machine. Furthermore, when the auxiliary door is opened during an operation of the washing machine, the weight of the laundry can be detected again and a washing performance of the added laundry can be guaranteed through additional supply of water and time increase so that a user's reliance on a product can be enhanced.